My Southern perspective: New respect for newspapers

Last month I attended the annual conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Each year, according to the organization's literature, 300 of the best columnists from across the country come together to talk about the science and art of sharing news and information.

(Before you get the impression that I am including myself among the 300 best in the country, I want you to know that anyone with $250 could attend. )

I had the privilege of meeting some celebrated writers from around the country, including Nancy Grace of "Swift Justice with Nancy Grace," Heloise, writer of "Hints from Heloise," Tom Johnson, former head of CNN, and Jim Wooten, former editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

They were an impressive bunch individually and collectively. With no exceptions, all of the speakers agreed with the premise that the field of news communication is changing and the changes promise to be major.

When the format of the Independent Mail changed in 2009 there was some measure of "shock and awe" to folks in the community.

Despite some of the frustrations of that time, the new format has proven to be more flexible from a technological perspective while adding color to multiple pages in each issue. The Chicago Sun Times has used our current format for years. Proof of the quality of the Independent Mail is in the 46 awards, an amazing number, won by our newspaper and its news staff this year from the S.C. Press Association.

One of the major problems of smaller newspapers is how to balance local and national news coverage. That is especially true here in Anderson. Some local readers have moved here from faraway places and enjoy reading about national happenings. Others look for local news and turn first to The Hometowner section when it comes out each week.

If you get the bulk of your news from TV, you have the headlines but little else.

If you drive with the radio on, you generally get lots of commentary but little content.

The local newspaper continues to be the primary source of news and information all across the country. It is the tie that binds, the catalyst and often the motivator to get people involved in important things that affect everyday life in these United States.

That is especially true in small cities like ours.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I would not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter."

Three days at the national conference gave me a new appreciation for our local newspaper and for those charged with the overwhelming responsibility to bring it to us 365 days (plus an extra one when leap year makes its appearance) each year.

We are both privileged and spoiled folks.

Anderson resident Mark Hopkins is former president of three colleges, including what was then Anderson College. He is a consultant in international higher education.